E 



^e^ No. 808 Series F, Geography, 63 

DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERIOR 
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CHAELES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR 



THE 



REAS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE 
STATES, AND THE TERRITORIES 



BY 



HENRV G-ANNETT 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PBINTING OFFICE 
1906 



-^ 




Glass E ls>l%_ 



Book 



/m^ 



Bulletin No. 302 



Series P, Geography, 53 



DKI'ART.MKNT OF Till", I.NTI.IMoU 

UNiTp:i) statp:s (^koloctIcal srinEY 

CIIAKI.KS I). WAI.COTT, Dikkctok 






THE 



AREAS OF THE INITED STATES, THE 
STATES. AND THE TERIirrOHIES 



BY 



HENl^Y G^ANNETT 




W A S 1 1 1 N ( i 1' () \ 

GOV K H N M K N T r U I N 1 I N < i ( ) K F I C K 
1 iK» G 



ILLUSTRATION. 



/ 

Plate I. "Map of the United States, defininfr the adopted limits of the gross 



us. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



NO. 302 PL 




MAP OF THI 



EN a CO LITH N 



THK AIIKAS (IF TIIK I'MTKI) STATES. THE STATES, AM) THE 

TEHRITOHIES. 



Bv IIexky Gannett. 



In 1S81 the Census Office published in an extra bulletin tables show- 
in jj the areas of the United States and of the several States and Terri- 
tories. The measurements and computations upon which these tables 
were based were made with care, according to methods described in 
the bulletin, and the results probably represented the areas as closely 
as they could be determined from the maps and charts of that time. 
In 1S99 the General Land Office printed similar tables, which were 
also prepared with great care and thoroughness. 

The tables presented in these two publications differ from each 
other. Most of the difi'erences are trifling, amounting to only a few 
square miles or a small fraction of 1 per cent, being well within the 
limits of error of the planimeter and of the maps used. Some of them, 
however, are considerable, and a few are explained by the fact that 
more recent maps, which changed the position of boundaries between 
States, had been used by the Land Office, and its measurement was, 
therefore, more nearly correct. Other discrepancies arose from difter- 
ences in determining the coast lines; as an example of this, the Land 
Office measurement of the State of Washington included half of the 
Strait of Juan de Fuca, while that of the Census Office did not, involv- 
ing a difl'crence in area of 1.500 square miles. 

I^e.'dizing the desirability t)f the (lovernment issuing but one state- 
mcni of areas of the States and Tn ritories, the offices concerned, 
through tiicir representative's. Mr. Frank liond, chief draftsman of the 
General Lund Oflice, Mr. C. S. Slo .ne, get)grapher of the Census Office, 
and myself, representing the Geological Survey, have been at work 
for several months in the endeavor to come to an agreement on these 
figures, and in the course of our di.scussion many new measurements 
have been made from the most recent and best maps. An agreement 
has been reached, tli(> results of wiiicli are s(>t fort!) in the accompany- 
ing table. 



BULLETIN NO-302 PL. I 



US, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 




MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, DEFINING THE ADOPTED LIMITS OF THE GROSS AREA 

Scale 



E N 3, CO LIT I- 




•7 






6 AEEAS OF STATES AND TERRITORIES. 

By this adjustment the area of the United States proper is increased 
over the Census Office figures by 1,188 square miles, or about three 
one-hundredths of 1 per cent. 

The question, "What constitutes the area of the United States?" 
is by no means a simple one. Jurisdiction extends to a line 3 
nautical miles from the shore, but this strip of sea can not properly 
be regarded as a part of the country. Supposmg our country to be 
restricted to the sea and lake coast, therQ remains a question regarding 
the bays and estuaries. To what extent should the coast line be fol- 
lowed strictly, and where should we begin to jump across the indenta- 
tions made by the sea? In this matter one can only follow his own 
judgment, making in each case as natural a decision as possible, as no 
definite criterion can be established. This applies also to those States 
bordering the sea and the Great Lakes. 

The method of measurement may be characterized in a few words. 
The areas of all square degrees included entirely within a State or the 
United States are taken from tables of such areas. Wliere a square 
degree is crossed by a boundary line, so that only part of it is included, 
both the part included and that excluded are measured from the best 
maps by planimeter, and the correctness of the measurement is tested 
by comparing their sum with the tabular area of the square degree. 

The entire boundary of the United States has now been mapped or 
charted with accuracy, so that, aside from uncertainties due to the 
interpretation of the coast line, there can be little or no question as 
to the correctness of the measurement of the country as a whole. 
The situation as regards the individual States is not so satisfactory, 
however, although the boundaries of most of them are now well 
mapped. Certain States are bounded by parallels and meridians, and 
the ascertainment of their areas is merely a matter of reference to 
tables of areas of square degrees, assuming that the boundary lines 
were accurately run and marked in accordance with the statute. The 
boundaries of a few of the States, however, have not been accu- 
rately mapped, and it is probable that changes will be made in the 
computed areas of these States. 

The area of Alaska, measured in this office from the large Coast 
Survey chart, is subject to considerable modification in the future as 
the position of the coast line becomes better known. 

The area given for the Philippine Islands is that determined by the 
Coast Survey of that archipelago, prepared at the instance of the 
Philippine Census and published in that report. It also is subject to 
modification as accurate charts of the archipelago are made. 

The areas of Hawaii and Porto Rico are probably subject to only 
slight change, as the charts from which they were measured are quite 
accurate. 



AREAS OF STATES AND TERRITORIES. 



The areas given U)v {\w other small jiossessions of the United 
States — Guam, Samoa, and the Panama Canal strip — will probably 
be changed in the future as their limits become more correctly defined. 

Areas, in square miles, of the States and Territories. 



Stiito or Torritorv. 



Alabama 

Arizona 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

District of C'oiunibia 

Florida 

Georgia 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Indian Territory. . . 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Mar3'land 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire. . . . 

New Jersey 

New Mexico 

New York 

North Carolina .... 

North Dakota 

Ohio 

Oklahoma Territory 



Land surface. | 


51. 


279 


113, 


840 


52, 


525 


156, 


092 


103, 


658 


4, 


820 


1, 


965 




60 


54, 


861 


58, 


725 


83, 


779 


.56, 


002 


35, 


885 


30, 


790 


55, 


.586 


81, 


774 


40, 


181 


45, 


409 


29, 


895 


9, 


941 


8, 


039 


57, 


480 


80, 


858 


46, 


362 


68, 


727 


145, 


776 


76, 


808 


109, 


821 


9, 


031 


7, 


514 


122, 


503 


47, 


654 


48, 


740 


70, 


183 


40, 


740 


.•JS, 


624 



Water 
surface. 



719 

116 

810 

2,205 

290 

145 

405 

10 

.3,805 

540 

534 

663 

469 

419 

.561 

384 

417 

3,097 

3, 145 

2,386 

227 

.500 

3,824 

.503 

693 

796 

712 

869 

310 

710 

131 

1, .5.50 

3,686 

6.54 

.300 

224 



Total area. 



.51,998 

11.3,9.56 

.53, 335 

158, 297 

103, 948 

4,965 

2,370 

70 

58,666 

59, 265 

84,313 

56,665 

36,354 

31, 209 

.56, 147 

82, 1.58 

40, .598 

48, .506 
33,040 
12,327 

8, 266 
57, 980 
84,682 
46, 865 

69, 420 
146, 572 

77. .520 

1 10, U90 

9,341 

8,224 

122, a34 

49, 204 
.52, 426 

70, .S.37 
41.040 
38.848 



8 AREAS OF STATES AND TEREITORIES. 

Areas, in square miles, of the States and Territories — Continued. 



state or Territory. 



Oregon 

Pennsylvania . . 
Rhode Island. . 
South Carolina. 
South Dakota . 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 

Washington . . . 
West Virginia. . 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 



Land surface. 



95, 607 
44,832 

1,067 
30, 495 
76, 868 
41, 687 
262, 398 
82,184 

9,124 
40,262 
66, 836 
24,022 
55, 256 
97, 594 



Water 
surface. 



1,092 

294 

181 

494 

747 

335 

3,498 

2,806 

440 

2,365 

2,291 

148 

810 

320 



Total area. 



2, 974, 159 52, 630 



Alaska 

Guam - 

Hawaii — - 1 ! 

Panama Canal Zone 

Philippine Islands 115, 026 

Porto Rico : ' 3,435 

Tutuila Group, Samoa | 77 



96, 699 
45, 126 

1,248 
30, 989 
77, 615 
42, 022 
265, 896 
84, 980 

9,564 
42,627 
69,127 
24, 170 
56, 066 

97, 914 

3, 026, 789 
590, 884 
210 
6,449 
474 



Total 



3, 743, 344 



Owing to their location adjoining the Great Lakes, the States 
enumerated below contain approximately an additional number of 
square miles as follows: 

Illinois 1 ,674 square miles 

Indiana - 230 square miles 

i 16,653 square miles 
12,922 square miles 
9,925 square miles 
460 .square miles 

Minnesota 2,514 square miles 

New York 3,140 square miles 

Ohio 3,443 square miles 

Pennsylvania , 891 square miles 

,^. . f 2,378 square miles 

Wisconsm -i ' ^ 

7,500 square miles 



of Lake Michigan. 

of Lake Michigan. 

of Lake Superior. 

of Lake Michigan. 

of Lake Huron. 

of Lakes St. Clair and Erie. 

of Lake Superior. 

of Lakes Ontario and Erie. 

of Lake Erie. 

of Lake Erie. 

of Lake Superior. 

of Lake Michigan. 



AREAS OF STATES AND TERRITORIES. 9 

Tn julditioM to the wator areas noted ahttvc, California clanns juris- 
diction over all Pacific waters lying within 3 English miles of her 
coast; Oregon claims jurisdiction over a similar strip of the Pacific 
Ocean 1 marine league in width between latitude 42° X. and the 
mouth of the Columbia River; and Texas claims jurisdicti(m over a 
strip of Gulf water 3 leagues in width, adjacent to her coast between 
the Rio Grande and the Sabine River. 



CLASSIFICATldX OF Till: IT|".|,irATI(J.\S oF TIIK rXlTFJ) STATES r;F.()I,OflICAL 

.SURVKV. 

[Bulletin No. 302.1 

The juiblicatiuns of the Uiiiteil States (iedlugical Survey consist of (1) Annual 
Reports; (2) ^htnojjraphs; (li) Professional Pai)ers; (4) Hulletins; (5) Mineral Re- 
son roes; (<>) Water-Sup])ly and Irrijration Papers; ( 7) Topojirajjhie Atlas of United 
State.s — folios and separate sheets thereof; (S) (Jeoloj^ic Atlas oi I'nited State.« — folio.s 
thereof. The classes luunhered '2, 7, and 8 are soM at cost of puhlication; the othei-s? 
are distributed free. A circular giving complete list.s may l»e had on ap[>lication. 

Most of the above i)ublications may be obtaineil or consulted in the following ways: 

1. .\ liniite<l number are delivered to the Director of the Survey, from whom they 
may i)e obtained, free of charge (except classes 2, 7, and 8), on application. 

2. A certain number are delivered to Senator.-* and Repre.sentatives in Congress, 
for distribution. 

'^. Other copies are deposited with the Sui)erintendent of Documents, Washington, 
D. C, from whom they may be had at jirices slightly above cost. 

4. Copies of all (Jovernment publications are furnished to the principal public 
libraries in the large cities throughout the United States, where they may be con- 
sulted by tho.-e interested. 

The Profes-sional Papers, Bulletins, and Water-Supply Papers treat cjf a variety of 
subjects, and the total number issued is large. They have therefore been classified 
into the following series: A, Economic geology; B, Descriptive geology; C, System- 
atic geology and paleontology; D, Petrography and mineralogy; p], Chemistry and 
physics; F, Geography; G, Miscellaneous; II, Forestry; I, Irrigation; J, Water st<jr- 
age; K, Pumping water; L, Quality of water; M, (ieneral hyilrographic investi- 
gations; N, AVater power; O, Underground waters; P, Ilydrographic jirogress reports. 
This paper is the tifty-third in Series F, the complete list of which follows (all are 
bulletins thus far except Professional Paj)er 45): 

SERIKS F, (JEOGR.M'HY. 

5. Diftionnry of altitiides in I'niterl States, by Hi-nry Gaiini'tt. ls>q. :?i=) p[). (Out of st<H-k; we 

Bulletin 27-1. ) 
t>. Kk'vntions in Dominion of Canada. \>y .1. W. Spencer, l.vil. j;5 pp. (Out of stock, t 
V.i. Boundaries of I'nited States and of the sevenil States and Territories, with historical sketch of 

territorial Chan(.,'es, hy Ih-iir>- Cannett. 1HS.\ 13.i pp. (Out of stock; see Kullctin 22<i.i 
■l.**. On form and i>i>sition of sea level, by R. S. WofKiward. WS8. KK pp. (Out of strnk. i 
4'J. Latitudes and longitudes of certain points in Missouri, Kan.iji.s. and New Mexico, by H. S. WikmI- 

ward. ].s,H'i. 13:5 pp. 
50. Formulas and tables to facilitate the construction and use of maps, by R. S. Woo<l\vnrd. is.sy. 

124 pp. (Out of 8tock.) 
70. Report on astronomical work of 1,hm9 and 1890, by R. S. W<M)d\vard. IHitO. 71) pp. 
72. Altitudes between Ijike Suf>erior and Rocky Mountains, by Warren I'pham. 1891. 229 pp. 
7ri. I)ictiouary of altitudes in I'nited States (second edition), by Henry Gannett. ISIM. :{•.»;{ pp. (Out 

of si<K-k: see Bulletin 274. 1 
U.S. (Jeojrniphic dictionary of Rhode Island, by Henry (Jannett. 1894. 31pp. 
lit;. Geographic dictionary (if .Ma.ssachusetts. by Henry (iannett. 1891. 12t> pp. 

117. (leopraphie dictionary of Connecticut, by Henry <;aiinett. 1894. tw pp. 

118. Geographic dictionary of New .Jersey, by Henry Gannett. 1894. 131pp. 

122. Results of primary trianjrulation, by Henrj- Gannett. 1894. 412 pp.. 17 pl.s. (Out of stock.) 

123. Dictionnry of Kiopniphic iM>siti(ms, by Henry (iannett. 189.'). 183 pp., 1 map, (Out of stock.) 
l;>t. Gazetteer oi Kansius, by Henr>- Gannett. 1898. 246 pp.. 6 pis. 

I 



II „ SERIES LIST. 

1»>0. Dictionary of altitudes in United States i third edition), by Henry Gannett. 1S99. 775 pp. 

(Out of stock; see Bulletin 274.) 
IHO. Gazetteer of Utah, by Henry Gannett. 1900. 43 pp., 1 map. 
lt)9. Altitudes in Alaska, by Henry Gannett. 1900. 13 pp. 

170. Survey of boundary line between Idaho and Montana from international boundary to crest of 

Bitterroot Mountains, by R. U. Goode. 1900. 67 pp., 14 pis. 

171. Boundaries of United States and of the several States and Territories, witli outline < f history 

of all important changes of territory (second edition), by Henry Gannett. 1900. ll'J ]]>.. 53 
pis. (Out of stock; see Bulletin 226.) 

174. Survev of northwestern boundary of United States, l.s.57-1861, by Marcus Baker. 1900. 7s pp., 

IpL 

175. Triangulation and spirit leveling in Indian Territory, by C. H. Fitch. 1900. 141 pp.. 1 pi. 

181. Results of primary triangulation and primary traverse, fiscal year 1900-1901, by H. M. Wilson, 
J. H. Renshawe, E. M. Douglas, and R. U. Goode. 1901. 240 pp., 1 map. 

183. Gazetteer of Porto Rico, by Henry Gannett. 1901. 51 pp. 

1S5. Results of spirit leveling, fiscal year 1900-1901, by H. M. Wilson, .T. H. Renshawe, E. M. Douglas, 
and R. U. Goode. 1901. 219 pp. 

1S7. Geographic dictionary of Alaska, by Marcus Baker. 1901. 446 pp. (Out of stock.) 

190. Gazetteer of Texas, by Henry Gannett. 1902. 162 pp., 8 pis. (Out of stock.) 

192. Gazetteer of Cuba, by Henry Gannett. 1902. 113 pp., 8 pl.s. (Out of stock.) 

194. Northwest boundary of Texas, by Marcus Baker. 1902. 51 pp., 1 pi. 

196. Topographic development of the Klamath Mountains, by J. S. Diller. 1902. 69 pp., 13 pis. 

197. The origin of certain place names in the United States, by Henry Gannett. 1902. 280 pp. (Out 

of stock; see Bulletin 258.) 
201. Results of primary triangulation and primary traverse, fi.'scal year 1901-2, by H. M. Wilson, ,T. H. 

Renshawe E. M. Douglas, and R. U. Goode. 1902. 164 pp., 1 pi. 
214. Geographic tables and formulas, compiled by S. S. Gannett. 1903. 284 pp. (Out of stock: see 

Bulletin 234.) 
216. Results of primary triangulation and primary traverse, fiscal year 1902-3, by S. S. (Jannett. 1903. 

222 pp., 1 pi. 
224. Gazetteer of Texas (second edition) . by Henry Gannett. 1904. 177 pp., 7 pis. 
226. Boundaries of the United States and of the several States and Territories, with an outline of the 

history of all important changes of territory (third edition), by Henry Gannett. 1904. 145 pp., 

54 pis. 

230. Gazetteer of Delaware, by Henry Gannett. 1904. 15 pp. 

231. Gazetteer of Maryland, by Henry Gannett. 1904. 84 pp. 

232. Gazetteer of Virginia, by Henry Gannett. 1904. 159 pp. 

233. Gazetteer of West Virginia, by Henry Gannett. 1904. 164 pp. 

234. Geographic tables and formulas (second edition), compiled by S. S. Gannett. 1904. 310 pp. 
245. Results of primary triangulation and primary traverse, fiscal year 1902-3, by S. S. Gannett. 1904. 

328 pp., 1 pi. 
248. Gazetteer of Indian Territory, by Henry Gannett. 1904. 70 pp. 
258. The origin of certain place names in the United States (second edition), by Henry Gannett. 

1905. 334 pp. 

Professional Paper 45. The geography and geology of Alaska, a summary of existing knowledge, 
by A. H. Brooks, with a section on climate, by Cleveland Abbe, jr., and a topographic map and 
description thereof , by R. U. Goode. 1906. 327 pp., 34 pis. 

274. A dictionary of altitudes in the United States (fourth edition), compiled by Henry Gti.nnett. 

1906. 1072 pp. 

276. Results of primary triangulation and primary traverse, fiscal year 1904-5, by S. S. Gannett. 1905. 

263 pp., 1 pi. 
2S1, Results of spirit leveling in the State of Xew York for the years l.s96 to 1905, inclusive, by S. S. 

Gannett and D. H. Baldwin. 1906. 112 pp. 
28.S. Results of spirit leveling in Pennsylvania for the years 1899 to 1905, inclusive, by S. S. Gannett 

and D, H. Baldwin. 1906. 62 pp. 
291. Gazetteer of Colorado, by Henry Gannett. 1906. 185 pp. 
299. Geographic dictionary of Alaska, by Marcus Baker: second edition, prepared by James McCormick. 

1906. — pp. 
302. Areas of the United States, the States, and the Territories, by Henry Gannett. 1906. 9 pp., 1 pi. 

CoiTespondence sliould be a<l<]re8seil to 

The Director, 

United States Geological Survey, 

Washington, D. C. 
Ski'te.mher, 1906. 

o 

LB Mr '08 



